Useful information

Adjustment of examination technology in state graduation

Candidates with disabilities have the right to adjustments in examination technology during state exams (for example, extended exam writing time, enlarged print, the right to a personal assistant, etc.). To exercise this right, you need to contact the National Centre for External Evaluation of Education.

If you are a student with disabilities, to exercise your right to adjusted examination technology, you should contact the examination coordinator at your school. It is also important to review the Instructions for Adjusting Examination Technology, available on the website of the National Centre for External Evaluation of Education. All other candidates with disabilities should consult the pages of the National Center for External Evaluation.

Adapted procedure for taking additional tests for enrolment in studies

Although the new system of enrolment in studies generally evaluates only state exams, some components of the University of Rijeka conduct additional testing of knowledge, skills and abilities. Every candidate with a disability or other documented difficulties has the right to an individually adapted procedure in the case of additional tests of knowledge, skills and abilities.

To exercise this right, the procedure is very similar to that for the adaptation of the academic environment, which is available here.

Priority in enrolment

Candidates with 60% or more physical impairment and candidates with 2nd to 4th degree impairment of functional abilities, whose impairments are on the “List of Organism Impairments”, have the right to enrol as full-time students outside the approved enrolment quota, provided they exceed the classification threshold and pass any required test of special abilities.

To exercise this right, the candidate must send the appropriate documentation (original or certified copy) to the Central Registration Office of the Agency for Science and Higher Education by registered mail by the specified deadline.

Students with disabilities who have been assessed as having at least 60% bodily impairment or at least level III functional impairment are entitled to a full tuition subsidy from the state budget of the Republic of Croatia if they:

• are enrolling in the first year of studies for the first time
• are in higher years of study and have obtained at least 30 ECTS credits in the previous academic year
• are enrolling in the first year of a new study programme at the same level for the second time, having previously withdrawn without completing their studies.

For students with full-time status, as long as they maintain this status and belong to vulnerable or underrepresented groups, the tuition subsidy is covered by the University or its constituent unit.
Students with disabilities in exceptional status who have been assessed as having at least 60% bodily impairment or at least level III functional impairment pay a maximum of 50% of the full tuition fee.

The Ministry of Science and Education awards state scholarships for specific groups of students. The competition is announced at the beginning of the academic year at www.mzo.hr.

As part of the “Solidarity” programme of the Aleksandar Abramov Fund, the University of Rijeka awards scholarships and financial assistance to full-time and part-time students of lower socioeconomic status in several categories. The competition is announced at the beginning of the calendar year at www.uniri.hr.

The University Counselling Centre of the University of Rijeka awards a one-time cash prize to the most successful student with a disability at the University of Rijeka. The competition is announced in October on the UCC and University of Rijeka websites.

The Institute for the Development of Education has launched a new version of the scholarship portal, which offers many new features, including a search engine for institutions in Croatia that award scholarships. More information about the portal and scholarships is available at www.stipendije.info.

The Ministry of Science and Education (MZO) provides reimbursement of part of the transportation costs for full-time students with disabilities.
Applications for support are submitted to the MZO on a special form, which can be downloaded from the Ministry’s website (www.mzo.hr).

Along with the form, additional documentation must be submitted in accordance with the Ordinance on the conditions and manner of exercising the right to financial support for covering part of the transportation costs for full-time students with disabilities

In recent years, there has been an increasing focus on the inclusion of people with disabilities in society. Despite this, society still marginalises people with disabilities almost daily. Many do this out of ignorance, as no one has ever instructed them on how best to help or behave towards people with disabilities.

To help improve the position of people with disabilities in society and to facilitate mutual communication, students active in the Office for Students with Disabilities at SSC have prepared eight useful tips on how to approach people with disabilities and the need to provide equal opportunities, not only to people with disabilities, but also to members of other marginalised social groups.

• Before offering help to people with disabilities, ask them if they really need it. There is a lot they can do themselves.
• Teach children to respect differences from an early age. encourage them to get to know people with disabilities, as well as members of other marginalized groups.
• Don’t assume the needs of people with disabilities, don’t be shy, ask them.
• Don’t stare at people with disabilities. If you’re curious, approach them and get to know them.
• Do not push wheelchairs without asking and do not lean on them; people in wheelchairs are dependent on them.
• The work of guide dogs and therapy dogs is very important. do not pet them without asking and do not disturb them in their work.
• If you are unsure how to behave towards people with disabilities, remember the golden rule: do (not) do to others what you would (not) want others to do to you.
• All people with disabilities are individuals with unique desires, dreams and hopes.

Source: Croatian Federation of Associations of the Physically Disabled

For more detailed information regarding sports for people with disabilities in Rijeka, you can contact the aforementioned Sports Association by email at office@ssoi-rijeka.hr or by phone at 051 312 226 (contact person: Ms Tatajna Udović, mag. cult.).

The University of Rijeka Sports Centre also offers numerous recreational programmes, including:

• Para table tennis – Department Building, Campus

Para table tennis is a sport that requires minimal changes to the rules and is inclusive for the vast majority of people with different physical abilities, most often those who have certain motor skill difficulties. The programme is implemented in cooperation with the Para Table Tennis Club “Rijeka”. Athletes of all physical abilities, except those with visual impairments, can compete in standing or sitting classes. (More information at: https://www.paralympic.org/table-tennis/about) https://www.paralympic.org/table-tennis/about)

Para table tennis is the third largest Paralympic sport by number of athletes and is practised in more than 100 countries. Table tennis is an incredibly fast game that improves the mental and physical abilities of the player and provides numerous benefits. The possibility of injury is minimised, so table tennis can be played by people of all ages, from the youngest to the very old. In addition to its proven health benefits, table tennis is also a very enjoyable sport that encourages socialising and can be played all year round.

• Breathing exercises and general preparedness exercises – Department Building, Campus

In various stressful and crisis situations, many people feel increased anxiety, restlessness, vague fear, accompanied by a series of physical symptoms such as heart palpitations, shortness of breath, tingling, “lump in the throat”, sweating, back pain, digestive disorders, sleep problems and more. Research has shown that breathing exercises can effectively alleviate anxiety. It is a very simple and undemanding technique that does not take much time. Deep, slow diaphragmatic or abdominal breathing ensures optimal oxygen supply and removal of carbon dioxide, which is important for the proper functioning of the body. This type of breathing can be learned, which is useful because it can help us improve our mental and physical health.

Physiological changes include:

• reduced blood pressure and heart rate
• reduced levels of stress hormones in the blood
• reduced accumulation of lactic acid in muscle tissue
• balanced levels of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the blood
• improved functioning of the immune system
• increased physical energy
• increased sense of calm and well-being

General preparatory exercises are designed and adapted to the specific needs and deficiencies of body parts. They play an important role in maintaining the biological balance of the organism. This is why the body should be provided with daily activity, as physical movement is the basic way to maintain health, not just a characteristic of life (Pejčić and Trajkovski, 2018).

General preparatory exercises consist of stretching, relaxation, and strengthening exercises, with or without aids.

The exercises range from simple to very complex movements and form the body’s alphabet of movement.

General preparatory exercises form the foundation for mastering more complex movement structures. These exercises influence anthropological status and are important for maintaining proper body posture. They also enhance movement quality, leading to greater refinement of movement.

• Coordinators at the constituent units
  Coordinators serve as a link between students, teachers, constituent staff, and the Office for Students with Disabilities. The coordinator is the contact person at the constituent unit (faculty/academy) whom students can approach to exercise their rights to class and exams adjustments, as well as to resolve any other issues related to the rights and studies of students with disabilities.

• School/university medicine doctors
  Employees of the Institute of Public Health provide preventive care through systematic examinations, teaching adjustments, counselling on chronic diseases, and more.

• Expert team
  • Prof. Dr Sc. Zoran Sušanj, Head of the University Counselling Centre
  • Prof. Dr Sc. Tamara Martinac Dorčić, Coordinator of Academic Accommodation Counselling
  • Sandra Nuždić, Prof., Head of Academic Accommodation Counselling
  • Maša Cek, Mag. Psych., Expert Associate for Student and Young Researcher Activities
  • Council of Academic Accommodation Counselling
    • Asst. Dr Sc. Sandra Bošković, Prof. Rehab., Faculty of Health Studies
    • Assoc. Prof. Dr Sc. Sanja Skočić Mihić, Faculty of Teacher Education
    • Prof. Dr Sc. Budislav Vukas, Faculty of Law
    • Asst. Dr Sc. Sarah Czerny, Faculty of Philosophy
    • Matija Maraš, Faculty of Philosophy (representative of students with disabilities)

The opinions of our students and collaborators are very important to us, so we regularly conduct evaluations of our work and activities.